1. a group of words that usually contains a subject and a verb, and expresses a complete idea. Sentences written in English begin with a capital letter and usually end with a full stop or a question mark: His voice dropped at the end of the sentence.in a sentence It’s difficult to sum it up in one sentence.short/simple/full/complex etc sentence In a few short sentences, Quinn explained what he had done.

2. a punishment that a judge gives to someone who is guilty of a crime: She received an eight-year prison sentence. He has just begun a life sentence for murder.

sentence II. punishment given by a judge ADJ. maximum, minimum | long, short | harsh, heavy, severe, stiff | lenient, light | indefinite, indeterminate | appropriate | mandatory The judge imposed the mandatory sentence for murder. suspended | custodial, jail, prison | non-custodial | death | life VERB + SENTENCE hand down, impose, pass, pronounce The judge will pass sentence on the accused this afternoon. be given, get, receive | serve He will have to serve a life sentence. carry out | await He spent a week in custody on remand awaiting sentence. face She could face a long prison sentence. commute, reduce The death sentence may be commuted to life imprisonment. suspend | appeal against | review | quash | carry The offence carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison. PREP. under ~ (of) He has been in prison for two months under sentence of death. ~ for an eight-year sentence for burglary

sentence verb PREP. for They had been sentenced for murder. to He was sentenced to two years in prison. PHRASES sentence sb to death, sentence sb to imprisonment The judge sentenced her to life imprisonment.

get/receive a sentence (also be given a sentence) She was given a three-year prison sentence.face a sentence (=be likely to receive a sentence)He faces a long prison sentence if he is caught.serve a sentence (=spend time in prison)Her husband is serving a two-year sentence for credit-card fraud.a crime carries a sentence (=that is the punishment for that crime)Rape should carry an automatic life sentence.impose/hand down a sentence (=officially give someone a sentence)The judge imposed a three-year sentence.pass sentence formal (=officially say what someone’s punishment will be)It is now my duty to pass sentence.a stiff/long sentence (=a long time in prison)Police officers are demanding stiffer sentences for offenders.a light/short sentence (=a short time in prison)We’re hoping that he gets off with a light sentence.a prison/jail sentence (also a custodial sentence British English formal) If found guilty, he faces a long jail sentence.a non-custodial sentence British English formal (=a punishment in which a person does not go to prison)The judge said the offence was too serious for a non-custodial sentence.a five-year/eight-year etc sentence (=five/eight etc years in prison)He was serving an eight-year sentence for burglary.the maximum sentence (=the most that can be given for a particular crime)The maximum sentence for this offence is five years.a life sentence (=prison for the rest of your life, or a very long time)In 1978 he was given a life sentence for attacking a 72-year-old woman.a death sentence (=a punishment of death)Death sentences were handed down to eight of the accused.a suspended sentence (=one which someone will serve only if they commit another crime)Her attacker got a two-year suspended sentence.